The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-09-13


Miss Claggett, in dark riding habit mount
ed on Gordon-a mud-colored, vicious looking
| Texas pony-was out for q gallop through the
"plney" woods, on sunny April morning, a
week or two after Bankers call upon her
father. Gordon S freshness, when not sulkng
with dropped ears over some youthful memory
OF western cowboys and prairies was Of that
abnormally uncertain kind which called for
care and good Workmanship.
Her spirits rose with Gordon's, yet at times
the sough and glamOr of the pines plunged her
IN careless reveries, quite unassOciated with
SUndry buckngS and prancngs OF that volatile
quadruped, when the reins hung loose. During
one of these distracted interludes man rose
mp suddenly from behind large "lightwood"
log by the roadside.
Gordon saw his opportunity and at once used
it so eifectually as to leave Lucy sitting in the
sandy road, rather rumpled and frightened,
while he, with final flourish of his heels
| toward the skies, scampered eff homeward, as
| though legion of his old foes, the cowboys,
were after him.
The man at once approached her, She saw
| with alarm that he bore seedy, tTampish
ASPECT. Yet Lis figure was SLIGHT and he had
bat one arm, while his face, despite proma-
| turely old look, seemed boysh and confiding.
He stopped at a respectful distance, and touch
ing battered hat, said:
"Pardon me, ma'am. Are you hurt? Can
This was hardly the language and manner
Of tramp Perhaps she was in for an advent
ure. He coughed, and she noticed that he
was hollow-chested and pale. Poor fellow
There could be no harm in being civil to him,
here in the interminable privacy OF these
woods.
"No," she replied. 'I'm all right, believe.
| | shall have couple Of miles to walk, but l
don t mind that"
Then she attempted to rise, but sank back
with a faint cry of pain.
hat is it?'' lie asked quickly.
~ icar-l have sprained my foot, she said,
family. Zee! How it hurts"
There was a branch close by, and he rushed
off, returning with his hat full OF wafer,
''IIave You a handkerchief" he inquired.
'If you win undo your shoe ! win pour water
on the sprain, then you can bind it up"
The situation was embarrassing, yet the pain
grew worse. Coyly she exposed fair like
foot and attempted to remove her boot. But
her trembling hands failed, and she sank back
with low moan Of pain. Without q word,
the man deity unlaced Che little boot with his
one hand, took IL carefully off and then
poured the cooling water ON the swollen instep.
Then he brought another hatful, wet the hand
kerchef she gave him, and, with touch as
| light as womans, wrapped itround the sprain
and slowly poured more water on it.
Lucy watched him with lips compressed and
hot Pushes, not altogether caused by pain,
| chasing each other over her face.
"There," he said at length ''you must rest
/ quiet here and will get help to you as soon as
possible"
]
finger, eyed it furtiyely for moment, then
/ said:
Excuse me, but will you let me look at that
ring just one minute2"
He held out his hand and She, wondering if
+ he really coveted il in return for his Samaritan
/ services, handed it to him, not knowing hardly
| how to refuse. lie examined it, looked eagerly
at the inscription inside, then returned Il
/ without word. Yet she fancied that his
| manner became gTayer, and that something
like dignity seemed somehow to be for the mo-
| ment impressed upon him.
At length the pain Of her spiain decreased
/ and he prepared 10 20 for assistance, when
/ there came a sound Of trampling hoofs through
/ the pines. Looking up they saw two men
approaching. Lucy colored and grew naughty
aud reserved at once. The tramp drew further
\ away from her, and replaced his soaked and
/ miashaped hat upon his head.
The surprise which George Barker may have
felt at seeing Miss Claggett sitting by the road
/ side in such company was yelled in a look Of
solicitude at the sight OF her bandagcd foot and
discarded shoe. Tom Cheeyer, his companion
looked inquiringly from the lady TO the tramp
I and dismOunting, said to her:
"Why, what's the matter, Lucy? Has this
( fellow insulted you?"
mot at all, " She replied, vaguely nettled al
his words. Gordon saw fit 70 throw me, run